Exclusive: An expat's career in Malaysia's Digital Economy

Hailing from Germany in 1992, Hans-Juergen Mikudim has built a lifetime career in Malaysia's IT sector and witnessed the growth of Digital Malaysia.

Describing his roles at SAP as well as the field he is in, Hans feels that he is in the right place.

"Technology is always advancing and it never gets boring. That dynamic factor is important to refresh any key role. Of course, in SAP there is a strong culture of working together as a team and that just makes it even better. Anytime you need assistance or advice you can reach out and help will find you," said Hans.

Hans feels that SAP offers a good working environment and provides plenty of opportunities for people to grow.

"The company places great focus on employees, having established many programs for their benefit in the areas of health, personal improvement and CSR (corporate social responsibilities)," he said.

Looking to the future

Acknowledging the rapidly changing pace of both the technological and business environments, Hans admitted to a certain level of concern that he has when he sees companies today.

"The Digital economy is here to stay and every company has to assess what it means, not only for themselves but for the industry. Although we see much movement in this regard, I fear that those who remain silent and unwilling to adapt to changes may well be left behind permanently," he said.

"Old business models are going away. Consumer behaviour is changing. The digital economy is driving greater competition and providing opportunities to companies of all sizes that were impossible to conceive only a few years ago. With 25 years of experience in the Malaysian market, SAP has been growing alongside businesses here and we hope to do so for years to come," said Yong.

Hans feels that because of the globalised economy there is far more transparency on all levels and this includes manufactures, buyers, and sellers. Modern IT systems must be agile and robust to adopt frequent innovation cycles.

He also feels strongly that companies today must realise that speed is one of the most critical points moving forward.

"It's the entire process really. Companies have to Innovate, Innovate, and Innovate - Constantly improve and optimise systems and processes. And ultimately, they must face increasingly short times to market," he concludes, adding that it's SAP's aim to ensure "customers always stay ahead of the competition".